Bernie Sanders Looks at Liberalism in Practice

I'd say that the House bill, in its current form, is the left side of the possible. It's not radical. It's not the preference of liberals. But it will certainly face opposition from Blue Dogs and Senate centrists.

For all that, it's nice to have Sen. Bernie Sanders around to remind us that there are actual left-wing alternatives floating around and that they turn out to be much easier to argue against in the abstract than in reality. There's a reason that Republicans attack "single-payer health-care," but not Medicare. In this clip, Sanders lays down a challenge to his colleague: Why, if socialized medicine is so terrible, don't they try and repeal the Veteran's Health Administration? And why, if single-payer is such a disaster, don't they take a shot at its repeal?

It's becoming obvious that a two tiered system is what we need. Something more like the VA for people on public assistance, something more like a price conscious consumer market for everyone else. Of course, you get called callous for advocating that different people should have access to different levels of medical care, especially if you're a Republican.

"It's becoming obvious that a two tiered system is what we need. Something more like the VA for people on public assistance, something more like a price conscious consumer market for everyone else."

Why not just allow those who choose the government clinics, doctors and hospitals and private health care for those who choose? Let the best system win. Opponents of reform simply are not going to do anything but oppose. Let them oppose, and pass strong reform.